Michael Zager holds the positions of the Dorothy F. Schmidt Eminent Scholar in Performing Arts, Professor of Music, and Director of the Commercial Music Program (Department of Music) at Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton, Florida. He previously taught at Mannes College: The New School for Music (The New School University), in New York City. A graduate of the University of Miami and Mannes College: The New School for Music (The New School University), Zager is the recipient of 4 Fulbright Specialist grants awarded by the U.S. Department of State Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, 7 Visiting Professor grants in Thailand and 1 Visiting Professor grant in Vietnam, and served 3 terms as a member of the Board of Governors of the Florida Chapter of The Recording Academy (Grammy Awards). He is the author of 3 editions of Writing Music for Television and Radio Commercials (and more): A Manual for Composers and Students and 3 editions of Music Production: For Producers, Composers, Arrangers, and Students (both published by Rowman & Littlefield).

He has produced, composed, and/or arranged original music in a wide range of musical idioms, including albums, commercials, and television, and source and theme music for major motion pictures. Zager was inducted into the Legends of Vinyl Hall of Fame.

Zager has produced Grammy Award–winning artists: Whitney Houston, Cissy Houston, Peabo Bryson, Luther Vandross, Denise Williams, Jennifer Holliday, Joe Williams, Arturo Sandoval, Herb Alpert, Olatunji,  Johnny "Guitar" Watson (2 nominations), Fontella Bass (2 nominations) and The Spinners (6 nominations). Some of his original scores and original studio recordings of Whitney Houston, The Spinners, and The Michael Zager Band reside in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum in Cleveland, Ohio.

His recording awards for producing, composing, and/or arranging include: 15 gold or platinum records, Golden Boot Award (France), Europe 1 Award (France), Olé Award (Spain), 2 BMI Citations of Achievement, given for most performed songs on radio in a given year, a Grammy Award nomination for “Cupid/I’ve Loved You for a Long Time,” performed by The Spinners, 3 Recording Academy (Grammy Award) Participation Certificates and a nomination for producer of the year by the Golden Music Awards, in Nashville. Zager produced Daniel Ray Edwards, who was nominated for best new artist by the Golden Music Awards in Nashville, as well as “You Win Again,” which was nominated for single of the year by the Golden Music Awards in Nashville. The Golden Music Award, in Nashville, also nominated his label for Best Independent Record Label of the Year.

Zager produced the album Behind the Curtain: Broadway Composers & Lyricists Sing Their Songs, a collection of 27 songs featuring some of Broadway’s most prominent composers and lyricists. They have won Grammy Awards, Tony Awards, and Academy Awards. He also produced The 'Night' Holocaust Concert: A Stand Against Hate, which was performed by The Kaliningrad Symphony Orchestra, The Vilnius State Choir and The Moscow Jewish Male Capella.

His television awards include a Platinum Video Award for the ABC Television Network series ABC FUNFIT with Mary Lou Retton. Jay-Z, Missy Elliott, 50 Cent, and many more artists have sampled his songs.

Zager has composed and/or arranged more than 400 commercials. His clients have included Dr Pepper, MCI, Masterlock, Cablevision, Buick, Acura, IBM, Schlitz Malt Liquor (sung by Kool & the Gang, The Spinners, .38 Special, and The Chi-Lites), Bounce (sung by Whitney Houston), Crystal Light (sung by Raquel Welch), Budweiser, Crest, Kodak, Ivory Shampoo, Maxwell House Coffee, Clearasil, Lancôme, Volvo, Burger King, Oscal (featuring Olympic Gold Medalist Peggy Fleming), and Burlington Coat Factory.

His advertising awards include a Clio Award, 3 International Film Festival awards, 3 Art Directors Club awards, and a Mobius Advertising award. For many years he produced the American Advertising Federation Hall of Achievement Awards in New York